|
I
to the republic for which it stands……
we should be promoting peace and shared security
to salve the grief, we attacked a country with overpowering military might
our leader’s polarizing rhetoric inflames the Moslem world, confusing traditional allies
we abandoned the ABM treaty, instituted a first strike nuclear policy and blocked the International Criminal Court
our contribution to international aid and health services has dropped to ten percent of our shared commitment
I
we should be preserving values of liberty and privacy
the USA Patriot Act compromised the habeas corpus guarantees
eviscerated the fourth amendment provisions against
unreasonable search and seizure
lawyer-client privileges
right to a jury trial
re-instituted racial profiling, domestic spying, infiltration of religious groups and tracking of the books we borrow and buy by the FBI, CIA and other government police agencies
surveillance and social control will destroy our freedom in the name of preserving it
III
we should be supporting dialogue, debate and an open governing process
the enemies of freedom saw us bypass the opportunity to renew our commitment to democratic processes, instead we created government
behind closed doors
behind closed court rooms
in military tribunals
island prisons
secret design of a homeland security department
loss of serious principled decent
democracy must be celebrated, as the strongest response to those who would attack it
IV
we should be upholding justice and defending the poor and vulnerable
our leaders provide regulatory favors to huge corporations
tax cuts
tariffs
airline subsidies
the poor, the working poor, older workers, aged
lose jobs
lose benefits
pension funds destroyed
parcel out prescription drugs, take drugs designed for animals, flee to Mexico or Canada to fill prescriptions
freeze or roast to death in unheated or cooled apartments
the war effort escalates, security agencies budgets bloat
all to subsidize the already comfortable
V
we should be demonstrating and demanding integrity in all sections of American life
the devastation of our financial markets due to fraud and deception far exceeds the impact of the terrorist attacks
our leaders blame a few bad apples in corporate board rooms
but refuse to challenge the corporate culture seeking unrealistic profits
inflated stock prices
inexcusable CEO salaries,
bonuses
stock options
golden handshakes
platinum parachutes
and outright theft
continues the policies of exclusion of the interests of workers
communities
the environment
the earth and the rest of its inhabitants
the CEO president and vice president were shaped and steeped by these values
the evidence is before us
VI
we should be enriching community and inspiring courage and hope
91101 gave us the opportunity to build communities
heal old wounds, divisions
nurture resilience and strength that come with a sense of common destiny
community
opportunities lost
without leadership
wasted moments to rebuild
we have policies that
inflame paranoia
encourage you to spy on me
me to report your suspicious activities
build a state of fearful demoralization
VII
we will reap the terrible harvest of the 91101 attacks if we
continue to be too frightened
demobilized by these after-events
we must seek each other out
share the wisdom
share the strength
search within ourselves
our traditions
core ethical insights
visions of our humanity
question authority
insist on debate
make a bond with
the detained
the marginalized
distinguish between patriotism and nationalistic hubris
if my judgment is too harsh, please forgive me
I seek peace
in my heart
in this society
in this world
in this life
©2002, Thane H. Allison, Jr.
Next page > “Holy War” by Hugh Hodge...
Poems for Peace collection > table of contents
Previous Feature Articles
By Date | By Topic
|
